Fire-extinguishing device



(No Model.)

G. J. HEXAMER.

FIRE EXTINGUI SHING DEVICE.

No. 341,143. m Patented May 4, 1886.

NITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES JOHN HEXAMER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING DEVICE.

QSEPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 110,341,143, dated May 4,1886.

Application filed August 5, 1885. Serial No. 173,590.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J OHN HEXA- MER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city and county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire-Extinguishing Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The nature of this invention isa combination of devices with the cook orvalve of a water or steam supply pipe for extinguishing fires, foropening said valve at a distance therefrom or from the outside of theroom or building, and retaining the same thus open.

The invention will be understood by the following description andclaims, reference being had to the annexed drawings, of whicl Figure 1isa side elevation with the parts in the position when the steam orwater supply pipe valve is closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view when thevalve is open. Fig. 3 is a plan view of part of the arm or support D andthe operating-rod X, hereinafter referred to. is a detail of fusibleplugconnection.

1? is a main pipe from asteam-boiler or water-reservoir, as may bedesired. Its free end on opens out intothe apartment of the building tobe protected from fire, XV being the partition or outside wall of saidapartment.

V is a usual spring-controlled valve contained within pipe P, and whosestem 8 projects a short distance horizontally from the valve-box B. To alug, b, in the present instance attached to a projection of thevalvebox, is pivoted an angular lever, L, whose short arm comes directlyin front of the end of said valve-stem and close to the same, as shownin Fig. l. A-rod, R, is pivoted to the extremity of said lever. This rodis made heavy, or usually carries a weight, 0. e

D is a projecting arm or support, secured to pipe P or other convenientpoint, and forked at its outer end, as seen in the plan view, Fig.

nates in hooks h. It has also notches n, for the reception of trunnionst, projecting from the upper part of abar, E, whose lower end isconnected to the upper end of the weighted rod R,which, as has beenstated, is pivoted tothe long arm of lever L.

.X is a rod connected to the bar,or rather to Fig. 4.-

5. This end turns down obtusely, and termi-' (No model.)

the trunnions, as shown, and extends outside the wall or partition XV inconvenient reach through a narrow slot, f, in the latter.

The connecting-rod E is preferably made 111 two parts with beveled edgesjoined together by means of a readily-fusible solder, Fig. 4. Thepurpose of this construction will appear further on.

Having now described the several parts and their connection, I will nowexplain their operation.

The normal position of the parts, as shown in Fig. l, is the valve isclosed, its stem pro jected to its full extent, and the short arm oflever L is retained out of contact with the latter indirectly by meansof the arm D, in the notches of which rest the trunnions t. supposing afire should occur in the room into which the free end of the water orsteam supply pipe gives: In order to open the valve, and thereby allowthe escape of the steam or water, the watchman or other person on theoutside of the room or building pulls upon the operating-rod X thereof,drawing the truir nions out of the notches n, and these, supporting theweighted rod R,slide down the incline until stopped by the hooks h, asillustrated by Fig. 2. This action, it will readily be seen, causes theshort arm of lever L to bear with great force against the valve'stem,and, push ing the same in against the stress of the usual spring, opensthe valve and permits the escape of the steam or water. \Vhen necessary,the valve may be again closed, without requiring the operator to enterthe building or apartment, by pushing up the rod and returning the partsto their original position, Fig. 1. Should, however, there be 'from anycause failure to operatein the manner just described, the valve willnevertheless be opened by the fusion of the solder g,which is adapted tomelt at a tempera ture of, say, 160 Fahrenheit, for it is obvious thatif the connection E be broken the weighted rod must drop, and the valveconsequently be opened.

In order to obviate too great a strain upon the parts, I usually attachin a suitable position a projecting bar, H, having a slot or loop, k, atits outer end, through which depends rod R, and said rod is providedwith a projection or collar, 0, of greater diameter than the middle ofslot in arm H, and is so located that the fall of theweighted rod isarrested at a point to take the strain from the other parts above thesaid collar.

I may here observe that the downward projection of arm D, including thehook h, may be dispensed. with; but I prefer to retain the same, inorder to prevent too sudden and great a strain upon the parts when therod X is pulled from the outside. Another advantage in employing thisdownward inclineis, that it affords a ready means whereby, by pushingagainst the rod X, the parts maybe returned to their original position.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the preciseconstruction sh0wn,or to a spring-controlled valve-cock.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. Ihe combinatio11,with the steam or water supplypipe and its valve, of the lever L, pivoted with relation to said valveas shown and described, the weighted rod pivoted to thelong arm of saidlever, the arm supporting said rod. together with the operating-rod X,pivoted to said weighted rod, all constructed and adapted to operatesubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination,with the steam or water supply pipe and its valve, ofthe lever I), pivoted with relation to said valve as shown anddescribed, the weighted rod pivoted to the lever, the rod-supporting armD,provided with the inclined part and stop-hooks, and the operating-rodX, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature this 18th dayof July, A. D. 1885.

CHARLES JOHN HEXAMER.

W'itnesses:

JNo. TAYLOR, LoUIs M. XVAGNER.

